Punganur cattle

The Punganur is an Indian breed of small zebuine cattle. It is found in the hilly area of Chitoor District, in Andhra Pradesh in southern India, and is among the smallest of all zebu breeds.

History

The Punganur is a traditional breed of the Chitoor District of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The breed name may derive from its association in the past with the Rajahs of Punganur, or from the name of the town itself. It is reared mainly in hill country, at up to above sea level.
It has in the past been an endangered breed. An attempt was made in the 1950s to form a government conservation herd, but without success. Its conservation status was listed by the FAO as "critical" in 2007. In 2016 there was a herd of no more than 30 head on a government farm. In 2022 a population of was reported to DAD-IS, and in 2024 the conservation status of the breed was listed as "not at risk".

Characteristics

It is among the smallest of zebuine cattle breeds: bulls stand some and weigh about, cows average in height and in weight. The coat may be white, grey, brown, red, or rarely black. The horns are small and of crescent shape.

Use

The cattle are used for draught power and for milk production. Milk yields and milk composition are highly variable; on average, cows give of milk in a lactation of 263 days, or approximately per day, with an average fat content of 5%.